Obituary of Rick Stilwell

CAYCE: Jerry Richard "Rick" Stilwell Jr., 44, died January 11, 2013. Private graveside rites for family and close friends will be held on Monday January 14, 2013. A public memorial service will be held on Tuesday January 15, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce. Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington is assisting the family. Rick was born on July 8, 1968 in Hickory North Carolina. His family moved to Columbia SC when Rick was 7 years old. Rick was a graduate of Airport High School and the Honors College of the University of South Carolina. He began his career in computer programming at Policy Management Systems Corporation in 1990. He continued working with the company as it was MYND and CSC. He began a new career in Social Media Development at Palmetto GBA in 2008 where he worked until his death. Rick was an ordained minister who accepted Christ on a Gatlinburg youth ski trip and continued to grow in his faith throughout the years. He served as a student leader at the Baptist Student Union at the University of South Carolina and also as a Sunday school teacher and youth group leader at both Trinity Baptist Church and Rosewood Baptist Church. He was also on staff at Columbia World Outreach. Prior to his death, Rick attended Seacoast Church Irmo. Rick was a prolific writer and photographer, from letters to his sweetheart in college, to his many journals, his online blog, and through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Many in the community knew him as RickCaffeinated-a man who was kind, witty, sometimes sarcastic but always joyful and ready to talk and help. He loved people: talking, learning, debating, and just getting more meaningful with them. His favorite thing was to sit down with a cup of coffee and chat. The outpouring of support from the community has humbled the family especially the twitter hashtag #LivelikeRick expressing their understanding that Rick "loved being informed and informing others, was a true lifelong learner and teacher. A voracious reader and gifted writer, Rick was blessed with the talent of being a true wordsmith. He was a realist and an optimist at the same time as he always saw and focused on the positive side and goodness in things and in people." Above all, Rick loved God and loved his family. He and Vicki met in college at the USC Baptist Student Union. They were married in 1991 and enjoyed traveling, finding new restaurants, and drinking coffee together. They loved each other deeply. His pride in his children was evident in every conversation he had to or about them. From his son's artwork to his daughter's figure skating to the family love of literature and movies, he enjoyed watching them grow and love God and people. He is survived in Columbia by his wife Vicki, son Trace, daughter Cammi, his parents Jerry and Beverly Stilwell, his brother Jeff, sister-in-law Kim, niece Sara Beth, mother-in-law Ruth Riddle, and many uncles, aunts, and cousins in NC and GA. Condolences may be sent to the family at 504 Moss Creek Drive, Cayce SC. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the charity of your choice.